Single mom Nolusindiso “Sindi” Mafilika has a full and busy life in Khayelitsha, working and raising her two children, and she’s loved watching her younger daughter grow more capable and confident through the mentorship and encouragement she receives through Infinite Family’s Cape Town LaunchPad.
Seeing that impact up close, she wanted to make sure other teens in her community weren’t missing out on an opportunity to grow, learn and succeed – and encouraged a neighbors’ son to sign up for the program too. However, when she realized, he kept missing his weekly VCs with his mentor and that his elderly grandparents didn’t fully grasp how much the sessions mattered, Mom Sindi also took responsibility for making sure the door she’d opened for him didn’t close! So she started reminding him, checking in to make sure he got to the site each week and, every term, when his school report arrives, she reads it the way a parent would.
Slowly, he became consistent and his family have watched him become more focused, more confident and more committed to his own learning.
For Mom Sindi, this is about more than her own child’s future. It’s ubuntu in action. Small actions, she says, add up to stronger communities, and stronger futures for all the children in them.
“I wish people understood that keeping children engaged in programs like this takes commitment, encouragement, and support from the whole community,” Sindi reflects. “When children show up consistently, it shows that these opportunities are making a difference — and it encourages sponsors and supporters to keep investing in programs like Infinite Family.”
Infinite Family may be driven by mentors who show up on screen but on the ground, it also depends on people like Mom Sindi. Asked what she’d want mentors to know, she doesn’t hesitate: “Your support means more than you may realize. Thank you. The encouragement, advice, and guidance you provide help young people build confidence, discover their potential, and believe in their future. Please know that your efforts are making a real difference, even when you may not see the impact immediately.”